Apparatus for binding loose sheets

ABSTRACT

The apparatus includes a binding station, means for supporting the straight fingers of a flat comb-like wire binder so that the fingers with the tips thereof foremost are directed toward the binding station, means engageable with the binder for pushing the fingers thereof into the station, and means at the station for progressively bending the fingers into circular form, the supporting means including means to prevent the portions of the binder fingers between the pushing means and the bending means becoming bent under the action of the pushing means, and the pushing means pushing the bent fingers through the perforations of the book to be bound and until the tip ends thereof become situated in the roots of the fingers. The bending means comprises two die members and a mandrel. The mandrel may be a single rod-like member, or may be a split mandrel composed of elements provided on the two die members.

THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the binding of books of loose perforatedsheets by wire binding elements, each composed of a wire that has beenformed into a series of spaced ring-like members for binding the sheetstogether and a series of lengths of wire uniting such ring-like members.

Binding elements of the indicated type are usually initially shaped bybending out of a straight wire, regularly spaced straight elongatedloops or fingers connected together at their open roots by aligned equallengths of wire to form a flat comb-like structure of indefinite length,and then bending the fingers out of the plane in which they are formedinto substantially C-shaped configurations. With the fingers of acertain length of such bent wire in this condition, a sufficient numberof perforated sheets can readily be impaled on the closed tips of thefingers and the binding of such sheets then completed by further bendingthe fingers to bring them to a fully-closed, ring-like form.

While the aforesaid method of binding by impaling sheets on thepartially closed fingers of a wire binder and then completing thebinding by bending the fingers to their fully closed condition is thepresent usual method of binding loose disadvantages it has certaininherent disadvantage which render its practice not entirelysatisfactory. Obviously, such a method requires a number of formingsteps and the handling of a partially formed pliant wire, all of whichrequires the employment of expensive machinery for in carrying out suchforming and handling, care must be exercised in preventing the partiallyformed fingers and tie-rods of the binder from becoming distorted fromtheir desired formed condition because of the flexibleness andresiliency of the wire.

It is the primary purpose of the present invention to provide a simple,less expensive method of binding loose leaf books with binding elementsof the indicated type.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method and a machine inwhich the binding is effected by introducing a binding element in theaforesaid flat comb-like condition into the machine and directlycompleting in one step the binding of a book of sheets with such abinder element.

Other objects, as well as the advantages and novel features of theinvention, will appear from a perusal of the following description, whenread in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a length of binder strip in the conditionin which it is supplied to the machine;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the form into which the binderstrip of FIG. 1 is directly converted by the binding operation, aportion of the bound book being shown in phantom.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the binding mechanism in a machineembodying the invention;

FIG. 3a is an enlarged detailed sectional view looking along the line3a--3a of FIG. 3;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the binding mechanism of themachine, as viewed from the right in FIG. 3, and showing the positionsof the parts thereof prior to the binding operation;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing the binding mechanism partsin position to start the book binding operation;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing the relation of the parts atthe end of the binding operation;

FIG. 6a is an enlarged detail, partly in section, of the coactingportions of the die parts in the relation shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 7--7 of FIG. 5and showing a binder element in position for the binding operation;

FIG. 8 is a vertical, partly sectional view taken along the line 8--8 ofFIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the mandrel actuating parts lookingalong the line 9--9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a front, prospective, exploded elevation of anotherembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 11 is a top plan view, partly broken away, of the apparatus shownin FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a front view, partly broken away, of the binding parts shownin FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a side elevational view of the parts shown in FIGS. 10-12;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged sectional view, looking along the line 14--14 ofFIG. 15, and showing the relation of the binding parts at the end of abinding operation;

FIG. 15 is a partial front view, partly broken away, of the bindingmechanism shown in FIG. 14; and

FIG. 16 is a perspective, partly broken away, detailed view of portionsof the mechanism shown in FIG. 14.

Considering now FIGS. 1-3 of the drawings, the continuous length of wirefrom which the binding elements are formed in accordance with the methodand in the machine of this invention, has been previously bent into aflat comb-like configuration and is supplied in this form to the bookbinder in any suitable pack, such as a reel. Such preformed wire, as isshown in the binder element generally designated by the referencenumeral 10 in FIG. 1 of the drawings, comprises regularly spaced,straight, elongated loops or fingers 11 closed at their tips and open attheir roots where they are connected by tie-rods 12 constituted ofaligned equal lengths of the wire forming the backbone of the comb andspacing the fingers 11 so that the pitch of the latter corresponds tothe pitch of the perforations in the sheets to be bound thereby. As isshown in FIG. 3 this preformed continuous wire is preferably supplied tothe machine stored on a reel 13. During the binding operation, thefingers 11 are bent into the ring members 14 shown in FIG. 2, in whichcondition, the tips of the fingers are brought into their open root endsto lock in bound condition the sheets of the book 15 shown in phantom.

Referring now to FIGS. 3-9 of the drawings, in the machine, the reel 13containing the stock of preformed binder 10' is rotatably supportedtherein in any suitable manner. The binder 10' may be fed from the reel13 into the machine by any suitable feed means such as the feed rolls 16illustrated, or the slide feed means disclosed in the V. Catini U.S.Pat. No. 2,891,585, dated June 23, 1959. The binder drawn from the reel13 may be advanced through a guide 17 and past a known cutting mechanism18 is constituted of a cutting member and a block such as shown in saidU.S. Pat. No. 2,981,585 and in the Bidwell U.S. Pat. No. 2,065,505,dated Dec. 29, 1936, and which periodically severs from the advanced endof the continuous length of binder 10', a length equal to or a littleshorter than that of the book of sheets 15 to be bound. The operationsof the binder feed means 16 and cutting mechanism 18 are controlled byany suitable means (bot shown) such as those disclosed in said U.S. Pat.No. 2,891,585, to advance the binder in a step-by-step fashion so thatwhen the binder comes to rest in its step-by-step advancement thedesired length of binder will be severed from the continuous stocklength thereof. As is shown in FIG. 1, such severance usually occursmidway of the two tie-rods 12 which form the ends of the desired lengthof binder element 10 and between which are located a number of fingers11 equal to the number of perforations in the book of sheets to bebound.

At the end of a step-by-step movement of the binder strip 10', and priorto the severance of a binder element 10 from the advanced end thereof,the backbone of the advanced end portion of the binder strip is insertedbetween the elongated depending jaws 20 provided on the lower end of avertical pusher bar 21 and forming an extension of the guide 17. One ofthe jaws 20 is fixed relative to the bar 21 and the other jaw is amovable jaw, the movement of which may be controlled by a solenoid orair pressure. The movements of the pusher bar 21 and the jaws 20 thereofare controlled by the aforesaid control means in timed relation to thebinder feeding means and cutting mechanism so that during the periods ofrest of the binder strip it will be gripped by the jaws 20 prior to thesevering of the binder element 10, and the gripped, severed binderelement then advanced by the pusher bar 21. The feeding means 16 socontrols the advancement of the binder strip that the fingers 11 in theadvanced end thereof will be in registration with vertical, equallyspaced, grooves or slots 25 provided in the front face 26 of avertically movable guide block 27 located below the jaws of the pusherbar 21. Thus, when the pusher bar 21 is advanced downwardly with thesevered binder element 10 in the grip of its jaws 20, the fingers 11 ofsuch element will be inserted into the upper ends of the grooves 25. Thepusher bar continues this downward movement until the fingers 11 aresubstantially fully inserted into the grooves 25 with the tie bars 12located in a horizontal groove 28, in FIG. 7, formed in the block 27 atthe top of the vertical grooves 25.

The front face 26 of the block 27 is in sliding contact with the rearface 31 of a die block 30 mounted on the lower end of a verticallymovable ram 32. Thus, the rear face 21 of the die block 30 closes theopen sides of the grooves 25 to convert the covered portions of suchgrooves into vertical holding receivers for translating the binderfingers 11 inserted therein. As is shown more clearly in FIG. 3a of thedrawings, the upper abutting edge portions of the blocks 27 and 30 areformed to provide cooperative pairs of tapered, rounded notches 33,33',respectively, which when the top surfaces of the two blocks 27,30 areflush, form conical guiding cavities directly centered above each groove25 to accurately facilitate the entry of the closed tips of the fingers11 into the vertical cavities 25 so formed between the blocks 27,30. Asindicated, during such insertion of the fingers 11 of the severed binderelement 10, the die block 30 will be partially advanced so that its topsurface will be flush with the top surface of the guide block 27 as isshown in FIG. 5 of the drawings. The die block 30 has formed in itsbottom end adjacently to the rear face 31 of such block, a plurality oflongitudinally spaced, transverse, arcuately-shaped, open ended, diegrooves 35 which are in communication throughout their lengths with alongitudinally extending arcuate groove 36. The arcuate groove 36extends the length of the die block 30 and its inner wall has acurvature approximating the curved surface portions of a rod-likemandrel 40 which seats thereon when the die is closed to convert thestraight fingers 11 of the preformed binder element shown in FIG. 1,into the ring members 14 in FIG. 2. The grooves 35 which arch around thearcuate groove 36, have an arcuate curvature similar to that of theinner wall of the groove 36 and extend to the rear face 31 of the dieblock 30 and to the bottom face 37 of such die block. The grooves 35 arelongitudinally spaced so that their open ends in the rear block face 31are in register with the grooves 25 in the front face 26 of the block 27and are equal in number to the latter.

The die block 30 cooperates with a stationary die block 45 mounted onthe frame 46 of the machine. The die block 45 has formed in its top endadjacently to the rear face 47 of such block, a plurality oflongitudinally spaced, transverse, arcuately-shaped, open ended, diegrooves 48 located in registered relation to the die grooves 35 andbeing in communication throughout their lengths with a longitudinallyextending arcuate groove 49 disposed in opposed relation to thelongitudinal groove 36. Like the grooves 35 and 36, the grooves 48 and49 have a curvature approximating the curved surface portions of themandrel 40. The grooves 48 extend to the rear face 47 of the die block45 and to the top face 50 of such die block. Located in spaced relationon the rear face of the die block 45 are a plurality of spaced verticalprojecting ribs 51 having formed at their upper ends a curved diesurface 52 forming an extension of the inner due surface of thetransverse grooves 48. The ribs 51 have a cross-sectional areaapproximating, but slightly less than the cross-sectional area of thegrooves or slots 25 so that such ribs are slidably received in thegrooves 25 as the block 27 moves downwardly in each cycle of operationof the machine (compare FIGS. 4 and 6). To accomplish this the ribs 51which are equal in number to the number of the grooves 25 are located onthe die block 45 in aligned relation to such grooves.

The block 27 is carried by a guide block 55 slidably mounted on avertical guide post 56 standing on the machine frame 46. Verticalsliding movement is imparted to the block 55 by a ram 57 pivotallyconnected to a bearing 58 secured by a strap 59 to the upper end of theblock 55. Pivoted on the strap 59 below the bearing 58 is a dog 60 whichis normally biased to raised inoperative position as is shown in FIG. 4,by a spring 61. The dog 60 is actuated to lock a binder element 10inserted into the grooves 25 of the block 27 by a pneumatically operatedrod 62 pivotally connected to the working end of such dog. The dog 60 ismounted on the block 55 so that when it is actuated by the rod 62 to ahorizontal position in which its working end engages the top surface ofthe block 27, as shown in FIG. 5, the working end of the dog willoverlie and lock in place the tie-rods 12 of the binding element locatedin the longitudinal grooves 28 and prevent withdrawal of the bindingelement from the block 27 during the binding of the fingers 11 of thebinding element. Provided in the working end of the dog 60 in alignmentwith the grooves 25 are a plurality of notches 63 which enable the tipsof the binder fingers 11 to be inserted into spaces between the tie-rods12 at the root ends of the fingers as is shown in FIG. 2 of thedrawings.

It will be understood from the foregoing, that at the beginning of acycle of operation of the machine and into the grooves 25 of the block27, the block 27 and the die blocks 30 and 45 will be in the conditionshown in FIG. 5. In this condition of the blocks, the block 30 will beadvanced so that its upper surface will be flush with the upper surfaceof the block 27, the sides of the vertical grooves 25 and thelongitudinal groove 28 in the block 27 will be closed by the rear face31 of the die block 30, and the longitudinal arcuate groove 36 in thebottom face 37 of the block 30 will seat on the mandrel 40 which isresting on the longitudinal groove 49 in the top face of the die block45, so that the inner arcuate die surfaces of the pairs of grooves 35and 48 will be positioned an equal radial distance from the longitudinalcenterline of the mandrel 40. In such condition of the blocks, themandrel 40 is in a lowered position. It will be observed more clearlyfrom FIGS. 8 and 9 of the drawings, that the mandrel is supported at oneend only by a plate 65 which is pivotally connected at one end to abracket member 66 for movement from a horizontal position to a raisedposition, as shown in dotted outline in FIG. 9, wherein the mandrel 40will be raised from its seat 49. Means are provided in a manner known tothe art to rotate the plate 65 to the horizontal position shown in fulllines in FIG. 9 prior to bringing the blocks to the condition shown inFIG. 5. At the beginning of the machine cycle the dog 60 will be raisedin the manner shown in FIG. 4.

The book 15 of loose sheets to be bound is placed on a table constitutedof the top surface 50 of the stationary die block 45 and a shelf 70connected to the die 45 so that its top surface forms a continuation ofthe die surface 50. Adjustably mounted on the table are two side guides71,72, in FIG. 3, and an outer end guide 73; the three guides formingwith the mandrel 40 a closed area for confining loosely the sheets ofthe book 15. It is to be noted more clearly in FIG. 6a of the drawings,that the mandrel 40 throughout the extent of the die block 45 ischanneled to form a horizontal seat 74 providing an extension of the topsurface 50 and a shoulder 75 forming an end stop for the end of the bookto be bound. The shoulder 75 may be vertical, or preferably slightlyconvexly-shaped so that when the book end is pushed thereagainst theperforations 76 of the sheets will assume somewhat their boundarrangement, as is shown in FIG. 6a. It will be noted that such sheetperforations 76, though having a substantially greater area than that ofthe transverse die grooves 35,48, will for a juncture between the frontopen ends of such grooves. The grooves 35,48, the periphery of themandrel 40, the book perforations 76, the rib die surfaces 52 and theadjoining portions of the grooves 25, will define circular passagewaysfor the fingers 11 of the binder element 10 as such fingers are beingformed into the binder rings 14.

With the book inserted in position on the machine in the mannerindicated, the control mechanism of the machine is started to cause abinding element 10 to be cut and the straight fingers 11 thereofinserted into the closed grooves 25 of the block 27 and the tie-rods 12thereof deposited in the longitudinal groove 28 of such block in themanner previously explained. The dog 60 is then actuated to the positionshown in FIG. 5 to bring the working end thereof into locking engagementwith the tie-rods 12 of the inserted binder element 10. The ram 57advances to move the guide block 55 downwardly, causing the block 27 toslide downwardly on the rear face 31 of the die block 30 and on the rearface 47 of the die block 45, both of which surfaces are contained in thesame vertical plane. During such downward movement of the block 27, thedog 60 will maintain the binder element 10 fixed with relation to suchblock through its hold on the tie-rods 12 of the binder contained in thelongitudinal recess 27 of block 27. As the block 27 moves downwardlyfrom the position shown in FIG. 5 to the position shown in FIG. 6, theupper ends of the ribs 51 will enter into the bottom ends of the closedgrooves 25 containing the binder element fingers 11. When the diesurfaces 52 on the upper ends of such ribs 51 come into engagement withthe closed tips of the fingers 11, the latter will be bent outwardly ofsuch grooves 25 and into the die grooves 48. The die surfaces 52 andgrooves 48 will bend the fingers 11 into the circular configurationdesired in the rings 14. As the closed tips of the bent curved fingerportions emerge from the die grooves 48 they enter into the sheetperforations 76 of the loosely confined sheets and through theirengagement with the edges of such perforations rearrange the book sheetsto bring them to the arrangement they will have in the bound book. Theformed ends of the fingers 11 on emerging from the book perforations 76will enter into the die grooves 35 which will guide them around themandrel 40 and to a position where the tips of the fingers will belocated just at the juncture of the open ends of such fingers with thetie-rods 12. When the closed bent tips of the fingers 11 reach suchposition, they will have been formed into the binder rings 14 and thebinding of the book will be completed. This final position of the binderfingers tips is possible of accomplishment because of the notches 63provided in the working end of the dog 60. While not necessary to thebinding of the book the die grooves 35 exercise a controlled action onthe final form of the binder rings 14. As the formed ends of the fingers11 emerge from the book perforations 76, due to the inherent resiliencyof the wire, the fingers tend to spring back and expand the rings 14,which expansion may be uneven. The die grooves 35 prevents suchspringing back of the rings 14 and sets them into a permanently roundform about a longitudinal center line, thus assuring that the pages ofthe book will be bound properly.

The control mechanism then operates the machine parts to raise the dieblock 30, the mandrel 40, the guide block 55 and the dog 60 to thepositions shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings. With the coacting parts insuch positions, the rings 14 of the formed binder element are released,and the bound book can readily be slid off the right side of the mandrelas viewed and shown in FIG. 8 of the drawings.

Instead of constructing the machine to operate with a solid mandrel suchas the above described mandrel 40, the machine may be constructed toprovide a split mandrel enabling the book to be withdrawn from themachine in a direction opposite to that in which it has been inserted. Abinding machine provided with a split mandrel and embodying theinvention is shown in FIGS. 10-16 of the drawings. Since the machine ofFIGS. 10-16 is essentially the same as that shown in FIGS. 1-9 of thedrawings, the showing of FIGS. 10-16 has been limited to the mechanismfor forming the binding operation and of which the split mandrel formsan integral part thereof. Further, the parts shown in FIGS. 10-16, whichcorrespond to the parts of FIGS. 1-9 have been given similar referencedesignations.

The machine of FIGS. 10-16 comprises a stationary die block 45' mountedon a guide block 80 fixed to a frame 46 of the machine in any suitablemanner (see FIGS. 10 and 13). The rear face 47 of the die block 45' hasa plurality of projecting guide ribs 51 provided at their tops with diesurfaces 52 and slidable in the vertical grooves 25' formed in the frontsurface 26 of a slide block 27'. The slide block 27' is verticallyslidable in the guide block 80 fixed to the frame 46 of the machine andis supported in suspended condition in such guide block by a pair ofvertical rods 81 connected at their upper ends to a vertical frame 82provided at its upper end with a horizontal plate 106 to which issecured the lower end of a ram rod 57'. The frame 82 is provided alongits lower edge with spaced holding members 60' for clamping against thetop surface of the block 27' the tie-rods 12 of a binder element 10whose straight fingers 11 have been inserted into the grooves 25' (noteFIG. 12). Unlike the previously described block 27, the ribs 51 of theblock 45' are in sliding engagement with the grooves 25' of the block27' throughout the range of vertical movement of the block 27'. Whenentirely retracted, with the holding members 60' spaced above the topsurface of such block 27' sufficiently to permit the supply of a binderelement such as shown in FIG. 1 thereto, the top surface of block 27'will be flush with the top surface of the die block 30' which isvertically actuated in the manner of the previously described die block30. This condition of the blocks shown in FIGS. 12, 13 and 16 of thedrawings. As will be observed in FIGS. 10 and 14 of the drawings, thefront face 26 of the block 27' is provided with a horizontal arcuategroove 83 which cuts across the vertical grooves 25' in such face 26 soas to be located in the region of the upper ends of the ribs 51 on thedie block 45 in the aforesaid condition of the parts. When the block 27'is entirely advanced, it will have moved downwardly to the extent thatthe top surface thereof is adjacent to the upper terminal ends of theribs 51 at which time the binding operation will have been completed.

The split mandrel of the machine shown in FIGS. 10-16 is formed by partsintegral with the opposed upper and lower ends of the die blocks 45' and30' respectively. It will be seen more clearly in FIGS. 14-16 of thedrawings, that the die block 45' is provided along the rear edge of itstop face 50 with a plurality of spaced, aligned mandrel segments 90having upper curved surfaces 91 which engage with comparable curved,spaced, aligned curved surfaces 92 provided along the rear edge of thebottom face 37 of the die block 30' when the block 30' is in its fullyadvanced or lowermost position. The rear ends of the curved surfaces 92extend below the overall area of the bottom surface 37 of the die block30' to provide a longer guiding surface as will hereinafter become moreclear. The guide surfaces 92 each have a width substantially equal tothe combined width of an associated mandrel segment 90 and a reducedportion 94 of such segment and projects beyond the curved surface 91 ofsuch segment 90 to overlie, in spaced relation, the exterior curvedsurface 93 of such reduced portion 94 and the die surface 52 on theupper end of the associated rib 51 which is also disposed in spacedcoactive relation with said reduced portion surface 93. The spacesbetween the outer ends of such reduced segment portions 94 and the otherside faces of adjacent mandrel segments 90 are, in the closed conditionof the dies 30', 45', filled by a series of spaced depending mandrelsegments 97 having lower end curved surfaces 98 which engage withcomparable, spaced, aligned curved surfaces 99 provided in the uppersurface 50 of die block 45' between the mandrel segments 90. Like thecurved surfaces 92, the curved surfaces 99 are sufficiently wide enoughto that one end portion thereof overlie, in spaced relation, the diesurfaces 93 formed by the reduced mandrel portions 94. In the region ofthe ribs 51, the curved surfaces 99 are continuous with the curvedsurfaces 52 provided on the upper ends of such ribs. It will thus beunderstood that when the die blocks 30', 45' are closed, with themandrel segments 97 interposed with the mandrel segments 90, the opposedsides of such segments, the curved surfaces 93 of the reduced mandrelportions 94, the portions of the surfaces 92 overlying such surfaces 93and the portions of the surfaces 99 underlying such surfaces 93, fillform upper and lower die passages 35', 48', respectively (note FIGS. 14and 15). The rear ends of the die passages 35', 48', as in the case ofthe previously described die passages 35 and 48, respectively,communicate with the vertical grooves 25', and the front ends of suchpassages 35',48' communicate with the aligned perforations 76 in thesheets of the book 15. The book 15 of loose sheets is placed in positionon the shelf 70 with one side of the book against the side guide 71 andthe edge thereof to be bound engaging the front common faces 100 of themandrel segments 90. The mandrel faces 100 are preferably configured torearrange the sheets of the book so that the perforations 76 thereofform passageways conforming somewhat in shape to the forms in which thebinder element fingers 11 are to be bent. The front curved surfaceportions of the reduced portions 94 of the mandrel segments 90 aresubstantially flush with the central convex portions of the faces 100 onthe segments 90 (note FIG. 14). The front faces of the depending mandrelsegments 97 are vertical faces, but they are spaced rearwardly from themandrel faces 100 and do not come into engagement with the edge of thebook that is to be bound.

It will be understood from the foregoing, that at the start of a machinecycle, the parts of the machine are in the positions shown in FIG. 13,with the mandrel parts separated as is shown more clearly in FIG. 16 ofthe drawings. A book of sheets 15 is placed on the shelf 70 with oneside thereof in engagement with the side guide 71, and the side thereofto be bound in engagement with the mandrel surfaces 100. In FIG. 15 ofthe drawings, the location of the book is indicated by the double arrowdesignated 15. On starting the cycle of operation of the machine, abinding element 10 such as shown in FIG. 1, is cut and inserted into theslots 25' of the block 27' in the manner explained in the description ofthe machine shown in FIGS. 1-9 of the drawings. The ram, of which therod 57' forms a part, then advances to move the frame 82 downwardly. Thebolts 81 are loosely connected to the frame 82 and the frictionalcontact of the block 27' with the guide block 80 is sufficient to causean initial movement of the frame 82 without a consequent movement of theblock 27' until the holding members 60' on such frame clamp down on thetie rods 12 of binding element 10 supplied to the block 27'. The block27' will thereupon be advanced with the binding element clamped inposition for the binding operation. As the block 27' advances, the dieblock 30' will be simultaneously advanced downwardly toward the dieblock 45' to cause before any binding operation commences, theinterengagement of the mandrel segments 90 and 97 in the assembly of themandrel for such operation. The die block 30' is provided adjacently tothe front ends of the aligned series of curved surfaces 92, a pluralityof spring pressed plungers 105 which come into engagement with the topsheet of the book 15 as the interengagement of the mandrel segments90,97 takes place to hold the sheets of the book in the form in whichthey have been rearranged, during the binding operation. The assembly ofthe die will be completed and the advancing movement of the die block30' will end when the surfaces 91 of the segments 90 engage the curvedsurfaces 92, and the surfaces 98 of the segments 97 engage the curvedsurfaces 99 on the upper surface 50 of the die block 45'. The frame 82and the block 27', however, will continue their downward movement toperform the binding operation in the manner previously described withrespect to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 9 of the drawings. Whenthe binding operation is completed, the holding members 60' and theblocks 27' and 30' will be withdrawn in the manner previously describedwith respect to the holding member 60 and the blocks 27 and 30,respectively. As in the case of the previously described machine withrespect to the groove 28 in which the released binder portions 12 arelocated, when the block 27' initiates its upward movement, the completedcircular elements 14 will be rotated slightly about the mandrel toenable the binder portions 12 to become unseated from the top of theblock 27'. In this construction, the withdrawing movement of the block27' is controlled to bring it to a stop when the horizontal groove 83 onthe grooved face 26 of such block moves into position in back of themandrel and the formed binder thereon. As has been indicated the bendingof the straight fingers 11 of the binding element into the circularelements 14 of the completely formed binder element takes place aboutthe reduced portions 94 of the mandrel segments 90. Consequently, whenthe die block 30' is retracted at the end of a binding cycle, the spacesleft by the withdrawl of the mandrel segments 97 and the space providedby the grooves 83 will enable the circular elements 14 to be readilydisengaged from the mandrel segments 90 simply by shifting the bookslightly to move the elements 14 off the reduced mandrel portions 94 andinto the spaces left by the withdrawn mandrel segments 97 between theouter ends of such portions 92 and the spaced other side walls of theadjacent segments 90. The book can then be withdrawn in a directionopposite to that in which it was inserted into the machine for binding.

While I have hereinabove described and illustrated in the drawings, twoembodiments of my invention, it will readily be understood by thoseskilled in the art, that other embodiments may be constructed withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appendedclaims.

I claim:
 1. A machine for binding a book of loose perforated sheets witha wire binder composed of a .[.continuous.]. piece of wire having aplurality of reversely disposed loops formed as straight parallelfingers and connected together at their roots by longitudinal portionsto form a flat comb-like structure, comprising a binding station, meansfor supporting a binder so that the straight binder fingers thereof withthe tips of the fingers foremost are directed toward said station inproper position for entry through the perforations of the book of sheetsto be bound, .Iadd.means for feeding binders of a desired length to saidsupported proper position, including means for advancing a continuouslength of such wire and for automatically severing such desired binderlengths from the leading end of said continuous length of wire,.Iaddend.means engageable with the longitudinal portions of .[.the.]..Iadd.a severed so supported .Iaddend.binder for pushing the straightbinder fingers thereof lengthwise into said station with the tip ends ofsaid fingers in leading position, and means operative at said bindingstation as the straight binder fingers .[.ae.]. .Iadd.are.Iaddend.pushed thereinto for progressively bending the straight fingersunder the pressure of said pushing means into circular form startingwith the tip ends thereof so that the bent finger portions progressivelypass into and through the means including restraining means for eachstraight binder finger operative to prevent the portions thereof betweensaid pushing means and said operative means becoming bent during thepushing action of said pushing means and until such portions reach saidoperative means, and said pushing means maintaining an advancing forceon the binder fingers only until the tip ends thereof become situated inthe gaps at the roots of the fingers between the longitudinal portionsof the binder.
 2. A machine as defined in claim 1, in which saidoperable means comprises a series of longitudinally spaced, curvednarrow die surfaces aligned with the straight binder fingers of a binderon said supporting means and having entry ends located in the path ofmovement of such fingers toward the binding station so as to interceptthe same, and a plurality of mandrel portions coactable with said diesurfaces to bend the straight fingers and direct the bent fingerportions into the perforations of the book of sheets to be bound.
 3. Amachine as defined in claim 1, in which said supporting means comprisesa member having a vertical surface and in which said restraining meanscomprises a plurality of spaced, vertically disposed straight fingerpositioning means provided on said vertical surface and each operativeto prevent the straight portions of the finger associated therewithbeing bent during the pushing action of said pushing means.
 4. A machineas defined in claim 3, in which said vertically disposed positioningmeans on said member consist of a plurality of vertical grooves forreceiving the straight fingers of the binder.
 5. A machine as defined inclaim 3, including means for confining the straight binder fingers tosaid positioning means on said member as said fingers are advanced bysaid pushing means to said binding station.
 6. A machine as defined inclaim 5, in which said pushing means comprises means for clamping thelongitudinal portions of the binder to said member, and means to advancesaid member and said clamping means in unison relative to said bindingstation, whereby the binder is in stationary condition relative to saidsupporting means during the binding of the fingers thereof.
 7. A machineas defined in claim 1, in which said supporting means comprises a firstmember movable from a retracted position toward said binding station andhaving a vertically disposed face in which is provided vertical groovesfor receiving the straight fingers of the binder, and including a secondmember having a vertically disposed face slidable on the vertical faceof said first member and covering the open sides of the portions of thevertical grooves containing the binder fingers in the retracted positionof said first member, said vertical grooves and the vertical face ofsaid second member constituting said restraining means, said first andsecond members being movable relative to each other to progressivelyexpose to said operative means the advancing portions of the straightbinder fingers in such covered portions of the vertical grooves duringthe advancing movement of said first member.
 8. A machine as defined inclaim 7, including means for moving said second member from a retractedposition in which it is withdrawn from said binding station, toward saidbinding station prior to the operation of said operable means in eachcycle of the machine.
 9. A machine as defined in claim 3 in which saidoperable means comprises a horizontally disposed mandrel located at saidbinding station and extending in adjacent relation across the verticalsurface of said member, and die means associated with said mandrel andproviding a plurality of spaced curved bending surfaces transverse toand coactable with said mandrel to progressively bend the binder fingersas said pushing means is advanced, said spaced bending surfaces beingaligned and cooperative with the vertically disposed finger positioningmeans on the vertical surface of said member to progressively receivethe advancing straight finger portions from said finger positioningmeans.
 10. A machine as defined in claim 4, in which said operable meanscomprises a horizontally disposed mandrel located at said bindingstation and extending in adjacent relation across the grooved face ofsaid member, and die means associated with said mandrel and providing aplurality of spaced curved bending surfaces transverse to and coactablewith said mandrel to progressively bend the binder fingers as saidpushing means is advanced, said spaced bending surfaces being alignedand cooperative with said vertical grooves to progressively receive theadvancing straight finger portions from said vertical grooves, and saidspaced bending surfaces each having a leading edge portion extendinginto the cross-sectional area of its associated vertical groove andprogressively bending the straight finger in such groove out of the sameand between the associated bending surface and the mandrel as saidpushing means is advanced.
 11. A machine as defined in claim 10, inwhich such leading edge .[.portion.]. .Iadd.portions .Iaddend.of saidbending surfaces are provided on the ends of guide elements engageablewith the vertical grooves of said member.
 12. A machine as defined inclaim 10, in which said engageable means comprises spaced portionsengageable with the longitudinal portions of the binder with the spacestherebetween in registry with the vertical grooves of said member, andin which said die means comprises a second die member disposed on theother side of the book to be bound and having edge portions coactablewith said mandrel and located adjacent to the grooved face of saidmember, said edge portions of said second die member being provided withspaced curved guide surfaces transverse and coactable with said mandreland arranged to have one of their ends in registration with theperforations in the book to be bound and the other ends thereof inregistration with the vertical grooves of said member and incommunication with such groove through the spaces in said engageablemeans, whereby the tip ends of the bent fingers are brought intoregistry with the gaps at the roots of the fingers.
 13. A machine asdefined in claim 9, in which said mandrel is a split mandrel composed ofa series of spaced, aligned mandrel elements, and means supporting saidmandrel elements in coactive relation to said curved bending surfaces.14. A machine as defined in claim 13, in which said mandrel supportingmeans comprises a plurality of spaced supporting members aligned withsaid mandrel elements and connected at one end to one end of the mandrelelements, and including a plurality of spaced aligned second mandrelmembers, removably insertable into the spaces between the other ends ofsaid first mentioned mandrel elements and supporting members.
 15. Amachine as defined in claim 14, including a book support, and in whicheach connected supporting member and first mentioned mandrel element areintegrally formed, said first mentioned mandrel element being reduced inrelation to the supporting member, and said supporting member beingconfigured to form a stop for the edge of a book placed on said booksupport to be bound.
 16. A machine as defined in claim 9, in which saidspaced curved bending surfaces are provided on a die member disposed toone side of a book to be bound, said die means including a second diemember disposed on the other side of the book to be bound and providedwith spaced curved guide surfaces transverse and coactable with saidmandrel and arranged to have one of their ends in registration with theperforations in the book to be bound and the other ends thereof inregistration with the positioning means of said member, and in whichsaid mandrel is a split mandrel composed of a series of spaced, alignedfirst mandrel elements mounted on said first mentioned die memberintermediate said edge portions of the latter and having reduced binderforming portions overlying said edge portions in spaced relation, and aseries of spaced aligned second mandrel elements mounted on said seconddie member and removably insertable into the spaces between said firstmandrel elements.
 17. A machine for binding a book of loose perforatedsheets with a binder composed of straight parallel fingers connectedtogether at their roots by longitudinal portions to form a flatcomb-like structure, comprising a binding station, means for supportinga binder so that the straight binder fingers thereof with the tips ofthe fingers foremost are directed toward said station in proper positionfor entry through the perforations of the book of sheets to be bound,.Iadd.means for feeding binders of a desired length to said supportedproper position, including means for advancing a continuous length ofsuch wire and for automatically severing such desired binder lengthsfrom the leading end of said continuous length of wire, .Iaddend.meansfor pushing the straight binder fingers .Iadd.of a severed so supportedbinder .Iaddend.lengthwise into said station with the tip ends of saidfingers in leading position, and means operative at said binding stationas the straight binder fingers are pushed thereinto for progressivelybending the straight fingers into circular form starting with the tipends thereof and directing the bent finger portions through theperforations of the book of sheets to bind the same, said operable meanscomprising a series of longitudinally spaced, curved die grooves alignedwith the straight binder fingers of a binder on said supporting meansand having entry ends located in the path of movement of such fingerstoward the binding station so as to intercept the same, and a pluralityof mandrel portions coactable with said die grooves to bend the straightfingers and direct the bent finger portions into the perforations of thebook of sheets to be bound, said mandrel portions forming part of arod-like member having one free end, means supporting the other end ofsaid member and operable to move said member into and out of operableposition relative to said die grooves to enable respectively, thebinding operation to take place and the discharge of the bound book offthe free end of said member.
 18. A machine for binding a book of looseperforated sheets with a binder composed of straight parallel fingersconnected together at their roots by longitudinal portions to form aflat comb-like structure, comprising a binding station, means forsupporting a binder so that the straight binder fingers thereof with thetips of the fingers foremost are directed toward said station in properposition for entry through the perforations of the book of sheets to bebound, .Iadd.means for feeding binders of a desired length to saidsupported proper position, including means for advancing a continuouslength of such wire and for automatically severing such desired binderlengths from the leading end of said continuous length of wire,.Iaddend.means for pushing the straight binder fingers .Iadd.of asevered so supported binder .Iaddend.lengthwise into said station withthe tip ends of said fingers in leading position, and means operative tosaid binding station as the straight binder fingers are pushed thereintofor progressively bending the straight fingers into circular formstarting with the tip ends thereof and directing the bent fingerportions through the perforations of the book of sheets to bind thesame, said operable means comprising a series of longitudinally spaced,curved die grooves aligned with the straight binder fingers of a binderon said supporting means and having entry ends located in the path ofmovement of such fingers toward the binding station so as to interceptthe same, and a plurality of mandrel portions coactable with said diegrooves to bend the straight fingers and direct the bent finger portionsinto the perforations of the book of sheets to be bound, said mandrelportions being spaced apart longitudinally and are movable as a wholelongitudinally into operative binding position with respect to said diegrooves and to retract such mandrel portions from said die grooves so asto enable the bent fingers to be disengaged from said operable means.19. A machine for binding a book of loose perforated sheets with abinder composed of straight parallel fingers connected together at theirroots by longitudinal portions to form a flat comb-like structure,comprising a binding station, means for supporting a binder so that thestraight binder fingers thereof with the tips of the fingers foremost asdirected toward said station in proper position for entry through theperforations of the book of sheets to be bound, .Iadd.means for feedingbinders of a desired length to said supported proper position, includingmeans for advancing a continuous length of such wire and forautomatically severing such desired binder lengths from the leading endof said continuous length of wire, .Iaddend.means for pushing thestraight binder fingers .Iadd.of a severed so supported binder.Iaddend.lengthwise into said station with the tip ends of said fingersin leading position, and means operative at said binding station as thestraight binder fingers are pushed thereinto for progressively bendingthe straight fingers into circular form starting with the tip endsthereof and directing the bent finger portions through the perforationsof the book of sheets to bind the same, said supporting means comprisinga member having a vertically disposed face in which is provided verticalgrooves for receiving the straight fingers of the binder, and saidoperable means comprising a horizontally disposed mandrel located atsaid binding station and extending in adjacent relation across thegrooved face of said member, and die means associated with said mandreland providing a plurality of spaced curved bending surfaces transverseto and coactable with said mandrel to progressively bend the binderfingers contained in said vertical grooves as said supporting means isadvanced, said die means comprising a die member disposed on one side ofa book to be bound and having edge portions coactable with said mandreland located adjacent to the grooves face of said member, said edgeportions being provided with said curved bending surfaces constructed sothat one end of said bending surfaces extend into said vertical groovesand the other ends thereof register with the perforations in the book tobe bound, said mandrel being a rod-like member separate from said diemember, and said edge portions of said die member being joined by alongitudinally extending curved recess providing a seat for saidmandrel, said curved bending surfaces being in the form of transversegrooves in said recess, and means connected to one end of said mandreland operative to seat said mandrel in said recess at the start of amachine cycle and to unseat said mandrel from said recess when the bookis bound to permit removal of the latter from the other end of themandrel.
 20. A machine for binding a book of loose perforated sheetswith a binder composed of straight parallel fingers connected togetherat their roots by longitudinal portions to form a flat comb-likestructure, comprising a binding station, means for supporting a binderso that the straight binder fingers thereof with the tips of the fingersforemost are directed toward said station in proper position for entrythrough the perforations of the book of sheets to be bound, .Iadd.meansfor feeding binders of a desired length to said supported properposition, including means for advancing a continuous length of such wireand for automatically severing such desired binder lengths from theleading end of said continuous length of wire, .Iaddend.means forpushing the straight binder fingers .Iadd.of a severed so supportedbinder .Iaddend.lengthwise into said station with the tip ends of saidfingers in leading position, and means operative at said binding stationas the straight binder fingers are pushed thereinto for progressivelybending the straight fingers into circular form starting with the tipends thereof and directing the bent finger portions through theperforations of the book of sheets to bind the same, said supportingmeans comprising a member having a vertically disposed face in which isprovided vertical grooves for receiving the straight fingers of thebinder, and said operable means comprising a horizontally disposedmandrel located at said binding station and extending in adjacentrelation across the grooved face of said member, and die meansassociated with said mandrel and providing a plurality of spaced curvedbending surfaces transverse to and coactable with said mandrel toprogressively bend the binder fingers contained in said vertical groovesas said supporting means is advanced, said mandrel being a split mandrelcomposed of a series of spaced, aligned mandrel elements, and meanssupporting said mandrel elements in coactive relation to said curvedbending surfaces.
 21. A machine as defined in claim 20, in which saidmandrel supporting means comprises a plurality of spaced supportingmembers aligned with said mandrel elements and connected at one end toone end of the mandrel elements, and including a plurality of spacedaligned second mandrel members, removably insertable into the spacesbetween the other ends of said first mentioned mandrel elements andsupporting members.
 22. A machine as defined in claim 21, including abook support, and in which each connected supporting member and firstmentioned mandrel element are integrally formed, said first mentionedmandrel element being reduced in relation to the supporting member, andsaid supporting member being configured to form a stop for the edge of abook support to be bound.
 23. A machine as defined in claim 20, in whichthe grooved face of said first member is provided with a horizontalgroove located on said face to be positioned at said forming station inthe retracted position of said first means and having a cross-sectionaldimension enabling the completely formed fingers to be shifted off saidmandrel elements.
 24. A machine for binding a book of loose perforatedsheets with a binder composed of straight parallel fingers connectedtogether at their roots by longitudinal portions to form a flatcomb-like structure, comprising a binding station, means for supportinga binder so that the straight binder fingers thereof with the tips ofthe fingers foremost are directed toward said station in proper positionfor entry through the perforations of the book of sheets to be bound,.Iadd.means for feeding binders of a desired length to said supportedproper position, including means for advancing a continuous length ofsuch wire and for automatically severing such desired binder lengthsfrom the leading end of said continuous length of wire, .Iaddend.meansfor pushing the straight binder fingers .Iadd.of a severed so supportedbinder .Iaddend.lengthwise into said station with the tip ends of saidfingers in leading position, and means operative at said binding stationas the straight binder fingers are pushed thereinto for progressivelybending the straight fingers into circular form starting with the tipends thereof and directing the bent finger portions through theperforations of the book of sheets to bind the same, said supportingmeans comprising a member having a vertically disposed face in which isprovided vertical grooves for receiving the straight fingers of thebinder, and said operable means comprising a horizontally disposedmandrel located at said binding station and extending in adjacentrelation across the grooved face of said member, and die meansassociated with said mandrel and providing a plurality of spaced curvedbending surfaces transverse to and coactable with said mandrel toprogressively bend the binder fingers contained in said vertical groovesas said supporting means is advanced, said die means comprising a diemember disposed on one side of a book to be bound and having edgeportions coactable with said mandrel and located adjacent to the groovedface of said member, said edge portions being provided with said curvedbending surfaces constructed so that one end of said bending surfacesextend into said vertical grooves and the other ends thereof registerwith the perforations in the book to be bound, a second die memberdisposed on the other side of the book to be bound and having edgeportions coactable with said mandrel and located adjacent to the groovedface of said member, said edge portions of said second die member beingprovided with spaced curved guide surfaces transverse and coactable withsaid mandrel and arranged to have one of their ends in registration withthe perforations in the book to be bound and the other ends thereof inregistration with the vertical grooves of said member, said mandrelbeing a split mandrel composed of a series of spaced, aligned firstmandrel elements mounted on said first mentioned die member intermediatesaid edge portions of the latter and having reduced binder formingportions overlying said edge portions in spaced relation, and a seriesof spaced aligned second mandrel elements mounted on said second diemember and removably insertable into the spaces between said firstmandrel elements. .Iadd.
 25. A machine for binding a book of looseperforated sheets with a binder composed of straight parallel fingersconnected together at their roots by longitudinal portions to form aflat comb-like structure, comprising a binding station, means forsupporting a binder so that the straight binder fingers thereof with thetips of the fingers foremost are directed toward said station in properposition for entry through the perforations of the book of sheets to bebound, means for feeding binders of a desired length to said supportedproper position, including means for advancing a continuous length ofsuch wire and for automatically severing such desired binder length fromthe leading end of said continuous length of wire, means for pushing thestraight binder fingers of a severed so supported binder lengthwise intosaid station with the tip ends of said fingers in leading position, andmeans operative at said binding station as the straight binder fingersare pushed thereinto for progressively bending the straight fingers intocircular form starting with the tip ends thereof and directing the bentfinger portions through the perforations of the book of sheets to bindthe same, said operable means comprising a series of longitudinallyspaced, curved die surfaces aligned with the straight binder fingers ofa binder on said supporting means and having entry ends to which suchfingers are directed as they are advanced by said pushing means, and aplurality of longitudinally spaced apart mandrel portions coactable withsaid die surfaces to bend the advancing straight fingers and direct thebent finger portions into the perforations of the book of sheets to bebound, said mandrel portions and said die surfaces being movablerelative to the other to bring them into operative relation for bendingthe fingers and to enable the bent fingers to be disengaged from saidoperable means. .Iaddend..Iadd.
 26. A machine as defined in claim 25, inwhich said supporting means includes restraining means for the straightbinder fingers operative to prevent the portions of the straight fingersbetween said pushing means and said operative means becoming bent duringthe advancement of said fingers to said binding station by said pushingmeans. .Iaddend.